Google dominance is on the rise. So much so, I’m beginning to wonder if they should slow down. Consider that Google already dominates Internet search across the globe – so much so that Google is, in effect, the gateway to the Internet for most of us. That achievement alone is astounding for any single company. But for Google, apparently it’s not enough.

Just in the past year, Google has spread it’s wings considerably. Their strategy is quite clear – at least to me. Dominate all ‘screens’ and incrementally grow its billions in profits as a result. They already own the PC screen. With Android and Nexus One, they hope to dominate the cell phone screen (although Apple and RIM will have something to say about that). Next up on the agenda – the TV. Recent reports outline an experiment with DISH Network for an Anroid powered set-top-box, allowing ‘television search.’ So there you have it – three screen dominance plans, well underway.

Add to that all of the ancillary services they layer on top of the ‘screen’ strategy. Google apps, Gmail, Google Earth, Google Buzz, YouTube, Google Voice – the list goes on and on. They are also looking to get into (experiment, they call it) the broadband access game, through their Google Fiber initiative. Makes you wonder whether they run the risk of ‘Google exhaustion.’ At some point, I would assume consumers will begin to get leary about a single company having so much control and influence over one’s life, no matter how ‘cool’ they are. Is Google approaching that?

Should this growing influence continue, isn’t it inevitable that the government will step in? After all government does not like it when a company gains so much influence, they in effect become more powerful than the government itself. Just ask AT&T pre-1984. Is there a Google MFJ on the horizon?

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12 thoughts on “Is Google Going Too Far?

  1. What I fear with Google is they devalue legitimate products and services, By offering most things for free (i.e. Google voice, YouTube, etc), they create unrealistic expectations in consumer's minds. Google can afford to do these things because they make billions from search/advertising. But everyone can't do that – subsidize products through an advertising cash cow.

    So by creating this expectation that everything should be free, they devalue everyone else's business, and potentially put them out of business. Then – who's left?

    1. I share your concerns and want to add with some more specific aspects: The "devalue" effect not only is driven by Google's for free approach but also by the ubiquity they create what Bernie mentions as the "exhaustion" effect. If Google tries to hard to dominate they really destroy value of others. Online services of good reputation and working business models might get into trouble by the "free of charge inflation" of services driven by Google. They are the only ones creating turnaround by just creating online "relevance" and placing their ads. This is my biggest concern.

  2. MS created similar feelings with OS and software then tried to control Internet with Blackbird in 1995. Perhaps Google will find it's Blackbird one of these day… a timely failure where lots of small companies capitalize on it and yet another behemoth emerges – only faster yet. Somewhere along the line I heard that history repeats itself… who knows maybe MFJ is repeated.

  3. Oh, you didn't hear. Google is interviewing several agencies to undertake a renaming, rebranding campaign. There new name – Skynet.

  4. Author missed Google being approved by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as an energy wholesaler last month.

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